A container for blood

Abstract: The container (1) comprises a generally rigid support (6) which, in combination with a filter element such as a net (9), defines a blood-inlet chamber of substantially constant size and geometrical shape. An expandible holding portion (7) is associated with the support (6) and, preferably, has a bellows-like configuration.

Description: The present invention relates to containers for blood comprising a container envelope which is at least partially expandible in oder to hold the blood introduced into the envelope, and filter means defining a blood-inlet chamber within the envelope. Containers of this type are currently used, for example, for transfusion purposes and in surgery for receiving and holding quantities of blood taken from the patient's body, for example, when the body is connected in an extracorporeal circulation system. In general, two kinds of container of this type are known in the art, that is: those constituted by actual bags, that is, envelopes of sheet material suitable for use in contact with blood (for example, PVC or polyurethane), forming generally flexible envelopes which can swell up to a greater or lesser extent according to the quantity of blood within them, and hybrid solutions such as that described, for example, in United States Patent US-A-4 424 190 in which the container comprises a concave, rigid, cylindrical shell and a flexible membrane; at rest, the membrane is disposed close to the internal wall of the shell and, when the blood flows into the container, the membrane bulges to a greater or lesser extent and, in the condition in which it is filled to the maximum permitted by the container, reaches a shape approximately complementary and symmetrical to that of the rigid shell. Whichever solution is used, the container usually has at least one connection for the inlet of blood (taken from the patient's body), a vent pipe for any air trapped in the blood, and at least one outlet pipe. Particularly in applications in an operating environment (extracorporeal circulation systems with blood oxygenators) there is usually also a further connection for the return of blood from the cardiotome, as well as a connection for recirculation from the oxygenator. In this latter situation of use in particular, it is imperative to ensure that any air entrained by the blood flowing into the container is eliminated as completely as possible. In fact, any air trapped in the blood may fragment, even at a microscopic level, and this may result in more or less extensive damage to the patient to whom the blood is reinfused. For this reason, it is current practice for a container of the type specified above to have, downstream of the blood-inlet connector, a filtering net (constituted, for example, by a sheet of polyester or polyamide with holes having diameters of the order of 40-200 microns) through which the blood entering the actual holding space of the container is intended to pass. The blood is filtered and the trapped air, which diffuses upwards to be discharged to the exterior through the corresponding vent pipe, is consequently eliminated. In both of the solutions considered above (a completely flexible bag and a container comprising a rigid shell) the filtering net is usually also a flexible element which follows the deformable parts of the bag in their bulging and flattening movements resulting from the flow of blood into/out of the container. This solution is unsatisfactory from various points of view. In particular, it encourages the formation of preferred blood-flow directions within the container, resulting in the formation of stagnant regions. Thus, in many cases, as a result of its very flexibility, part of the filtering net remains in a position close to the flexible wall of the container and adhering thereto when the container swells up, and the adhering portions of the net thus perform no useful function. More specifically the present invention relates to containers for blood according to the preamble of claim 1. A container of this kind is disclosed in prior art document US-A-2 776 055. The object of the present invention is to provide a container for blood which radically overcomes the problems recited above. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by virtue of a container having the specific characteristics recited in the following claims. Briefly, in the solution according to the invention, instead of constituting a flexible element which is intended to move more or less freely within the container, possibly remaining close to the flexible walls of the container, the filtering net is associated with a substantially rigid support which defines the blood-inlet chamber of the container and keeps the net evenly stretched out both in the rest condition and when the container is in use, without appreciable deformation resulting from the variations in the volume of the container itself. The entire surface area of the filtering net is thus kept constantly exposed to the blood flow entering the bag. Moreover, in the solution according to the invention the deformable (expandible) portion of the blood container can advantageously be produced in the form of a bellows. This enables a single type (or at least a small set) of structures to be used for supporting the filtering net , in combination with a plurality of bellows of various sizes (and hence volumes) in order to form a selection of containers with different and graduated capacities (for example, 450, 650, 950 cc) from a single base structure. This enables the user to select the container with the most suitable dimensions for the purpose envisaged at the time in question avoiding, for example, the need to select a large container for conditions of use in which the expected volume to be filled is small. The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a container for blood formed according to the invention, Figure 2 is a further perspective view of a container according to the invention, observed in the opposite direction from that of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 2, and Figures 4 and 5 are views corresponding approximately to the section of Figure 3, showing possible variants of the invention. As a premise, it should be noted that the term "blood" as used in all the parts of the present description and in the documents appended thereto (in particular, in the claims which follow) is intended to refer not only to actual blood but to all blood derivatives (plasma, etc.) in general and to biological liquids which may be dealt with by the container according to the invention. In the appended drawings, a container for blood (as defined above) is generally indicated 1. In particular, the embodiment shown relates to a container which can be used as a "venous bag" in an extracorporeal circulation system usable in a surgical-operating environment. In this situation of use, the container 1 is intended essentially to constitute a reservoir for holding the blood which has been taken from the patient's body and is intended subsequently to be readmitted to the patient's body after oxygenation treatment carried out in an oxygenator (not shown). For this purpose, the container comprises an inlet connector 2 through which the blood taken from the patient's body (by known means not shown) is admitted to the container 1, as well as an outlet connector 3 (situated in the portion of the container 1 which is in the lowest position under normal conditions of use) through which the blood flowing out of the container 1 is sent back to the patient's body (also by known means). Two further connectors, indicated 4a and 4b, usually in the form of flexible tubes, are situated in the portion of the container 1 which is in the upper position in the normal condition of use. The connectors 4a and 4b are intended to form a route for the venting of any gas (typically air) which is trapped in the blood admitted to the container 1 and which is liberated from the blood as a result of the filtering effect achieved according to the criteria described further below. In particular, the connector 4a is usually constituted by a flexible tube which opens in the top portion of the container 1 and the connector 4b forms a pipe which is also flexible and which usually extends within the container 1 for a certain distance so as to define a respective vent opening situated at a different, lower level than the vent opening defined by the connector 4a. A further connector, indicated 5, can be used to carry out (in known manner) the function of the so-called return from the cardiotome. Finally, a further connector (usually of smaller cross-section), indicated 5a, can be used for the function of recirculating blood from the oxygenator. In general, the connectors described above are arranged for the connection of flexible tubes. This is in accordance with criteria which are widely known to experts in the art and do not need to be recited extensively herein and which, moreover, are not relevant for the purposes of an understanding of the invention. The container 1 is composed essentially of two parts, that is to say: a rigid support 6 on which the connectors 2, 5 and 5a are preferably fitted, and a flexible portion 7 on which the connectors 3, 4a, and 4b are preferably fitted and which is constituted essentially by a bellows-like membrane structure which is fitted sealingly to the mouth portion of the support 6 so that, together with the support 6, it forms a closed, selectively expandible space. Naturally, the term "rigid" used as a feature of the support 6 in the present description and, where appropriate, in the following claims, refers to the conditions (particularly the mechanical, hydrostatic and hydrodynamic stresses) to which the support is subject in normal use under the action of a blood flow which is supplied to/discharged from the container, and in the normal situation of use. The support 6 is therefore defined as rigid since it can withstand the stresses to which it is subject in use without appreciable deformation: this contrasts with the feature "flexible" relating to the portion 7. In particular, reference is made to a "generally rigid" support 6 to take account of the fact that - at least in principle - the support 6 may be made pliable or flexible locally: what is important for the purposes of the implementation of the invention, however, is its general behaviour. As regards the selection of materials both for the support 6 and for the bellows-like portion 7, materials which have the following characteristics are generally used: haemocompatibility, at least in all the parts which are intended to come into contact with the blood (and hence at least on the internal faces both of the support 6 and of the bellows-like portion 7), general rigidity (in the terms defined above) for the portion which is intended to form the support 6, and preferably, compatibility for connection by bonding (by the application of adhesive, by heat-sealing or by radiofrequency welding, for example) so that the periphery of the bellows-like portion 7 (see in particular the sectioned views of Figures 3 to 5) can be welded along the periphery (the mouth portion) of the support 6. A selection of materials which has been found particularly satisfactory in this connection provides for the use of rigid PVC or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for the support 6 and PVC for the bellows-like portion 7. As can be seen from the drawings, the support 6 is of a generally flattened shape and has a recessed, generally tank-shaped portion 8 usually in its central region and extending over a significant portion of its area. By way of practical example, the support 6 shown in the appended drawings, may be compared to a kind of approximately rectangular tray. The blood-inlet connector 2 is preferably located in the base wall 8a of the tank-shaped portion 8. The mouth portion of the tank-shaped portion 8 of the support 7 bears (for example, as a result of welding or bonding) a filtering net 9 which divides the space within the container 1 into two chambers, that is to say: a first chamber which acts as a blood-inlet chamber into which the inlet connector 2, the cardiotome return connector 5, and the recirculation connector 5a open (that is, the connectors which admit blood to the container 1), and which is defined by the tank-shaped portion 8 and by the filtering net 9 extended over its mouth portion, and a second chamber defined by the bellows-like portion 7 and by the filtering net 9; the outlet connector 3 and the vents 4a and 4b open into this second chamber precisely on account of their end mounting positions. The first chamber has generally fixed dimensions since it is defined by a rigid body (in the terms defined above), that is, by the tank-like portion 8 of the support 6 and by an element (the filtering net 9) which is kept anchored along a good portion of its periphery to the periphery of the tank-like portion 8. The geometrical shape of the first chamber thus remains almost unchanged both at rest (that is, when there is no blood in the container 1) and in operating conditions, that is, when the blood is flowing into the container 1 through the connector 2. The second chamber, which is defined essentially by the flexible bellow-like portion 7, on the other hand, can vary its volume in dependence on the quantity of blood flowing into the container 1. The sectioned view of Figure 3 shows schematically two possible configurations adopted by the bellows-like portion 7. In particular, a configuration adopted by the flexible portion 7 in rest conditions, or in conditions in which the container 1 is only slightly filled, is indicated in continuous outline. The configuration which the bellows-like portion 7 can adopt when there is a certain amount of blood in the container 1, however, is shown in broken outline. It will be appreciated that the maximum volume of the deformation of the bellows-like portion 7 in practice defines the maximum volume to which the container 1 can be filled with blood: the quantity of blood housed in the inlet chamber defined by the tank-like portion 8 of the support 6 is in fact quite small. A support 6 of the same type (this term meaning a type of support 6 having certain dimensional characteristics) can be associated with bellows-like portions 7 of various types, that is bellows-like portions having, for example, different numbers of pleats. Thus, if a container 1 with a small capacity is required, a bellows having a small number of pleats (even only one pleat - as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3 - or half a pleat) will be coupled to the support 6. If a container of greater capacity is required, a bellows-like portion 7 with a larger number of pleats, for example, one and a half or two pleats, may be used as in the variants shown in Figures 4 and 5. Naturally for considerable ranges of capacity variations, the use of supports 6 of different dimensions could also be considered. The filtering net 9 is fixed to the support 6 along a good portion of its periphery (for example, on three sides of the periphery of the mouth of the tank-shaped portion 8) so as to render it essentially undeformable, but nevertheless leaving at least a portion ( which is intended to face upwards in use) which is free from the support to allow the rapid and unimpeded venting of air bubbles in the blood flowing into the container 1. In the embodiment shown (in which the mouth region of the tank-shaped portion 8 and the net 9 are generally rectangular) this result can easily be achieved by avoiding the welding or bonding the side of the net 9 which is intended to face upwards in use to the support 6 along, for example, one slightly arcuate and convex edge of the wall of the tank-shaped portion 8 (see Figure 1). It should also be stated that the solutions shown in the appended drawings, in which the support 6 has an overall size corresponding approximately to the size of the bellows-like portion 7, should be considered purely indicative. This solution has the advantage that the support 6 can be used to support the flexible portion 7 of the container not only in the region of the sealed connection (the mouth of the tank-shaped portion 8a) but also in peripheral portions. Thus, when the container 1 is disposed in a vertical position or is inclined to the vertical, the support 6 further supports the flexible portion 7, preventing it from being subject to excessive bulging under the action of the blood contained therein. The support 6 (and in particular its tank-shaped portion 8 which supports the filtering net 9) may, however, be formed in a manner such that it has smaller dimensions than the area of the flexible portion 7 associated therewith. The invention may therefore also be applied, for example, to conventional flexible bags (by way of example, bags constituted by envelopes comprising two flexible sheets sealed together along their peripheries) in the form of a type of insert applied to one of the walls of the bag in order to define an inlet chamber for the blood (a debubbling chamber) of generally constant volume. The foregoing also draws attention to the fact that although the bellows-like configuration shown for the portion 7 is preferred, it does not constitute an absolute necessity for the purposes of the implementation of the invention. For example, it is possible, whilst retaining a general configuration of the type shown in the drawings (that is, with a support 6 having an area approximately corresponding to that of the flexible portion of the container), to form the variable-volume portion of the container without the use of a bellows-like element, but simply by welding a sheet of generally flexible and resilient material along the periphery of the support 6. In this case, rather than leading to the unfolding of the flexible portion (as is the case of the bellows-like portion shown in the appended drawings), the filling of the container with blood brings about a certain bulging of the flexible (and resilient) sheet-like portion fitted on the rigid support. In order to prevent the reaction force of the membrane resulting in a net effect of pumping the blood towards the exterior of the container, the last solution mentioned is usually reserved for large containers (that is, containers in which the deformation force exerted on the resilient membrane is smaller for a given volume of blood contained). As far as the support 6 is concerned, a generally curved shape, for example, an arcuate shape, may be used in order to bring the connectors 3, 4a and 4b to the extremities of the arcs. In any case, whatever its structural details, the solution according to the invention has the basic advantage that the blood which flows into the container 1 (usually from the patient's body) collects in an inlet chamber of constant volume and geometrical shape and then goes into the variable-volume portion of the container after passing through the filtering net 9. It will be noted that, in the embodiment shown, the support 6 has a generally rectangular shape, whereas the bellows-like portion 7 (seen in plan and hence from an observation point which best identifies the shape of the peripheral connection to the rigid support 6) is of a generally hexagonal shape with a generally rectangular central portion 7a (Figure 2) and two triangular end portions, indicated 7b, the sides of which converge in the apex regions in which the connectors 3, 4a and 4b are disposed. This converging configuration of the portions 7b is intended (in the case of the outlet connector 3) to direct the blood towards the outlet aperture of the container 1 like a funnel and (in the case of the vent connectors) to direct any aeriforms liberated from the blood towards the vents 4a, 4b like a chimney or hood. This prevents the local relaxation of the flexible portion 7 in the only slightly full condition from blocking the connectors.

Claims: A container for blood comprising: a container envelope (6, 7) which is at least partially expandible (7) in order to hold the blood introduced (2) into the envelope (6, 7), filter means (9) defining a blood-inlet chamber within the envelope (6, 7), and a generally rigid support (6) which supports the filter means (9) so as to define a blood-inlet chamber the geometrical shape of which is generally constant regardless of the expansion condition of the container envelope (6, 7), said support (6) comprising a portion having a generally tank-shaped configuration (8) with a respective mouth portion, the filter means (9) being generally flat and extending over the mouth portion of the tank-shaped portion (8), said container being characterized in that the filter means (9) are separate from the periphery of the support (6) locally in at least one region of the filter means (9) which is intended to face upwards in use. A container according to Claim 1, characterized in that the container envelope (6, 7) is defined by an expandible portion (7), in combination with the generally rigid support (6). A container according to Claim 2, characterized in that both the filter means (9) and the expandible portion (7) are anchored to the support (6) on the mouth portion of the tank-like portion (8). A container according to Claim 2, characterized in that the expandible portion (7) has a generally bellows-like configuration. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6) is generally flat. A container according to Claim 2, characterized in that the generally rigid support (6) has an area substantially corresponding to the area of the expandable portion (7) so that, in use, the support (6) supports the expandible portion (7) which expands when it receives the blood within it. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one connector (2, 5, 5a) for admitting the blood to the container, and in that the at least one connector (2, 5, 5a) is located on the support (6). A container according to Claim 1 and Claim 7, characterized in that the tank-shaped portion (8) has at least one of a connector (5) for the connection of the return from a cardiotome and a connector (5a) for recirculation from a oxygenator. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one connector (3) for the outlet of the blood from the container and at least one connector (4a, 4b) for venting aeriforms which may be in the blood from the container, and in that the at least one outlet connector (3) and the at least one vent connector (4a, 4b) are located in end positions of the container (1). A container according to Claim 2 and Claim 9, characterized in that the at least one outlet connector (3) and the at least one vent connector (4a, 4b) are disposed in the expandible portion (7). A container according to Claim 10, characterized in that the expandible portion (7) comprises pointed portions which are directed towards the at least one outlet connector (3) and towards the at least one vent connector (4a, 4b). A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (6) is made of a material selected from the group constituted by PVC and polymethyl methacrylate. A container according to Claim 2, characterized in that the expandible portion (7) is made of a material selected from the group constituted by PVC and polyurethane.

Inventors: FINI MASSIMO, FINI, MASSIMO
Applicants: SORIN BIOMEDICA CARDIO SPA, SORIN BIOMEDICA CARDIO S.P.A.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A61M1
IPC codes: A61J1, A61M1